Opening cover

ABSTRACT

A medical apparatus that includes an apparatus body that has a surface with an opening and a cover coupled to the apparatus body about an axis of rotation angled to the surface. The cover is operable to rotate about the axis of rotation to move between a first position wherein the cover closes the opening and a second position wherein the cover is moved to allow access to the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 17/337,887filed on Jun. 3, 2021, entitled OPENING COVER, by inventors Michael T.Brubaker, Nathan Wray Matheny and Kurosh Nahavandi, which is acontinuation of U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 16/513,516 filed on Jul.16, 2019, now patent 11,027,891, entitled OPENING COVER, by inventorsMichael T. Brubaker, Nathan Wray Matheny and Kurosh Nahavandi, which isa continuation of U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 15/477,539, filed Apr.3, 2017, now Pat. No. 10,358,268, entitled OPENING COVER, by inventorsMichael T. Brubaker, Nathan Wray Matheny and Kurosh Nahavandi, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Ser. No.62/320,100 filed Apr. 8, 2016, entitled OPENING COVER by inventorsMichael T. Brubaker, Nathan Wray Matheny and Kurosh Nahavandi, which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a cover for an opening, and morespecifically to a cover for an opening in a medical apparatus.

In medical settings, it is often desirable to have attachment points oraccess points recessed within an apparatus. However, it is preferablethat these attachment or access points be covered to facilitatecleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a cover that can close oropen an opening in an apparatus housing or covering to provide access tothe opening, while still providing a surface that is easy to clean.

In one embodiment, a medical apparatus includes an apparatus body thathas an opening and a cover coupled to the apparatus body about an axisof rotation angled to the surface about the opening in the apparatusbody. The cover is operable to rotate about the axis of rotation to movebetween a first position wherein the cover closes the opening and asecond position wherein the cover is moved to allow access to theopening.

In one aspect, the cover is coupled to the apparatus body by acylindrical member. In a further aspect, the apparatus body has atransverse passageway for receiving the cylindrical member that islarger than the cylindrical member so that the cylindrical member cantilt in the transverse passageway.

According to another aspect, the cover is further coupled to theapparatus body by a fastener. In a further aspect, the fastener extendsinto the cylindrical member.

In yet another aspect, in any of the above, the medical apparatus mayinclude a spring, with the spring biasing the cover into the firstposition.

In a further aspect, the spring is mounted about the axis of rotation.

In yet further aspects, the medical apparatus further includes a washerbetween the fastener and the cylindrical member. The spring is mountedabout the cylindrical member between the washer and the apparatus body.

In another aspect, the cover includes a cover body. The apparatus bodywall has a recess, which forms the opening, and a through hole. Thecover body has a size and shape substantially equal to the size andshape of the recess.

In yet another aspect, the axis of rotation is offset in the opening,and the recess forms an enlarged shoulder adjacent the through hole.

In a further aspect, the cover is rotatably mounted to the enlargedshoulder.

In other aspects, the cover is flush with the apparatus body when movedto the first position.

In yet other aspects, the cover includes an engagement structure forengagement by (1) a tool or (2) a finger of a person.

In another aspect, the engagement structure comprises (1) a slot, (2) arecess, or (3) a high friction surface.

According to other aspects, the medical apparatus further includes aseal between the cover and the apparatus body when the cover is in thefirst position.

According to yet another aspect, the seal is mounted to the apparatusbody about the through hole.

In another embodiment, the medical apparatus has an apparatus body withan opening. The cover includes a cover body having a cylindrical memberdepending therefrom along an axis of rotation angled to the surfaceabout the opening. For example, the cylindrical member is configured tocouple the cover body to the apparatus body about the axis of rotationand to allow the cover body to move between a first position to closethe opening and a second position to allow access to the opening.

In another aspect, the cover is circular.

In yet another aspect, the cylindrical member includes a distal end,with the distal end having a threaded opening for receiving a fastenerto secure the cover to the apparatus body.

In yet further aspects, the cover further includes a spring that biasesthe cover into the first position.

In other aspects, the cover further includes a fastener and a washer forpositioning between the fastener and the cylindrical member. The springmounts about the cylindrical member between the washer and the apparatusbody when the cover is mounted to the apparatus body.

In yet other aspects, the cover body has a central axis orthogonal tothe cover body, with the axis of rotation offset from the central axis.

In another aspect, the cover includes an engagement structure forengagement by (1) a tool or (2) a finger of a person.

In yet another aspect, the engagement structure comprises (1) a slot,(2) a recess, or (3) a high friction surface.

Accordingly, a cover is provided that can close an opening but alsoallows easy access to the opening, while providing a surface that iseasy to clean.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will be morefully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of thecurrent embodiment and the drawings.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the details ofoperation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodimentsand of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways notexpressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may beused in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwiseexpressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed aslimiting the invention to any specific order or number of components.Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from thescope of the invention any additional steps or components that might becombined with or into the enumerated steps or components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical apparatus with an openingcover;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the opening cover of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the opening cover FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 1 showing the cover moved away from theopening;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the medical apparatus showing acover with a similar view to FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the mounting details of the cover to themedical apparatus; and

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of another embodiment of the mountingdetails of the cover to a medical apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 , the numeral 10 generally designates an openingcover, which is adapted to cover, and optionally seal, an opening 12 inan apparatus 14, such as a medical apparatus. As will be more fullydescribed below, cover 10 is coupled to apparatus 14 so that it ismovable between a first position in which the cover closes the opening12 and a second position where the opening 12 is, at least partially ifnot entirely, uncovered and accessible.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-3 , opening cover 10 includes a cover body 16that includes a central axis 10 a orthogonal to the cover body 16 andwhich is adapted to couple to body or housing 18 of apparatus 14 aboutan axis of rotation 20. Axis of rotation 20 is angled to the surface 12a about opening 12 so that the cover can rotate about the axis ofrotation 20 to move between a first position wherein the cover 10extends over and closes the opening 12 and a second position wherein thecover 10 is moved (e.g. to the side of opening 12) to allow access theopening 12. Further, as will be more fully described below, in oneembodiment, axis of rotation 20 moves in a conical path so that cover 10twists and spins out of opening 12 when it is moved to its secondposition.

As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the axis of rotation 20 of thecover 10 is offset from the central axis 10 a of cover 10 and,optionally, located at or near the edge of the cover, which furtherallows for the axis of rotation to be able to tip and have the coverride freely out of the opening, as will be more fully understood fromthe description that follows. In the illustrated embodiment, cover body16 is circular. However it should be understood that cover body 16 mayhave other shapes.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-3 , cover 10 further includes a pivot memberin the form of a cylindrical member 24. Cylindrical member 24 pivotallymounts cover 10 to apparatus 14 about axis 20 and, further, as will bemore fully described below, retains cover 10 on apparatus 14.Cylindrical member 24 may be mounted to cover 10 or may be integrallyformed therewith.

As best seen in FIG. 4 , opening 12 is formed by a recess 26 inapparatus body 18. Optionally, recess 26 is formed in a wall 22 ofapparatus body 18. However, it should be understood that cover 10 may bemounted to an apparatus body that is a solid body instead (such as shownand described in reference to FIG. 5B). Recess 26 forms a shoulder 28and a through hole 30 that is offset in the recess 26 to form anenlarged shoulder 28 a on one side of through hole 30. Enlarged shoulder28 a includes a transverse passageway 28 b through which cylindricalmember 24 extends for coupling cover 10 to apparatus body 18.

As understood from FIG. 5 , cover 10 is further coupled to the apparatusbody 18 by a fastener 32. As best seen in FIG. 5A, fastener 32 extendsinto the open threaded end 24 a (FIG. 3 ) of cylindrical member 24,which extends through passageway 28 b of enlarged shoulder 28 a.Optionally, cover 10 further includes a spring 34 to bias the cover 10toward apparatus body 18 and into its first position. For example, asbest seen in FIG. 5A, the spring 34 is mounted about cylindrical member24 and about the axis of rotation 20 of cover 10. Optionally, cover 10includes a washer 36 (FIG. 5A) between the head of fastener 32 andapparatus body 18, with the spring 34 being mounted about thecylindrical member 24 between the washer 36 and the apparatus body 18.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 , cover body 16 has a size and a shapethat are substantially equal to the size and the shape of the recess 26so that when cover body 16 is moved to its first position over opening12, cover body 16 will seat in and fully close opening 12, and furtherseat on shoulder 28. In this manner, cover 10 effectively seals opening12 when cover 10 is in its first position. Optionally, opening 12 mayincorporate a seal about opening 12, such as O-ring seal, which may beseated on shoulder 28. Further, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 , whencover 10 is in its first position, cover body 16 is flush with apparatusbody 18, which facilitates cleaning.

As noted above, axis 20 may move as cover 10 is moved between its firstand second positions. For example, as best seen in FIG. 5A, passageway28 b may be sized greater than outside diameter of cylindrical member 24to provide play between cylindrical member 24 and apparatus body 18. Inthis manner, as cover 10 is rotated out of opening 12, cylindricalmember 24 will tilt in passageway 28 b against the biasing force of thespring and axis 20 will move in a conical path so that cover 10 willtilt and twist out of opening 12.

As best in FIG. 2 , cover 10 also includes an engagement structure 40for engagement by (1) a tool or (2) a finger of a person. For example, asuitable engagement structure includes a (1) a slot, (2) a recess, or(3) a high friction surface. Further, the engagement structure 40 may belocated offset from axis of rotation 20 so that when a force is appliedby a person’s finger or tool, cover 10 will pivot about axis of rotation20. Alternately, the engagement structure 40 may align with the axis ofrotation 20, for example, when configured to work with a tool, such as ascrewdriver.

To facilitate rotation of cover 10 from its first position to its secondposition, cover body 16 may have a tapered edge 16 a (FIGS. 3 and 4 ).Similarly, recess 26 may include a tapered side wall 26 a (FIG. 4 ),which may have the same or similar taper to tapered edge 16 a. Thus,tapered side wall 26 a can guide cover 10 outwardly from recess 26 ascover 10 is rotated about axis of rotation 20. In other words, theinteraction between the two tapers translates the rotational movement ofthe cover into sliding motion of the cover outwardly from recess 26 tothereby move the cover 10 out of the opening 12.

Cover 10 may be formed from a wide selection of materials, includingplastic or metal or wood, or a composite material.

As noted above, cover 10 may be used on an apparatus with a solidapparatus body, such as shown in FIG. 5B. Referring to FIG. 5B,apparatus 114 includes an apparatus body 118 with an opening 112.Opening 112 is formed by a recess 126 that extends into the outersurface of apparatus body 118. Similar to recess 26, recess 126 forms athrough hole 130 that forms an access opening or an attachment pointthat is recessed within apparatus 114.

Cover 10 is mounted in opening 112 on a flange 128, which extends intorecess 126 to form a mounting surface for cover 10. Similar to shoulder28, flange 128 includes a transverse passageway 128 b for receivingcylindrical member 24 of cover 10. In a similar manner to the previousembodiment, cover 10 is secured in opening 112 by a fastener 32 andwasher 36, with fastener 32 extending into and engaging the open end ofcylindrical member 24. Spring 34 is similarly captured between washer 36and the underside of flange 128 to apply a biasing force to cover 10.Again the size of passageway 128 b may be greater than the cylindricalmember 24 so that cylindrical member 24 can tilt in passageway to allowaxis of rotation 20 to pivot and tilt, as described above. Similar tothe previous embodiment, recess 126 may include a tapered perimeter toform a tapered interface with cover 10 to facilitate guiding cover 10out of opening 112 when a force is applied to cover 10 by a finger ortool, as noted above. For further details of how cover 10 and apparatusbody 118 cooperate, reference is made to the first embodiment.

Accordingly, cover 10 is configured to cover the opening and holelocated in the opening, but is movable while remaining attached to theapparatus. Cover 10 is secured in place to cover the opening, but isallowed to pivot or spin out of position when rotated to thereby uncoverthe opening, and then rotated back into place. Receding the cover inplace avoids unintended opening of the cover. Further, the springapplies a force to the cover that pulls it back into the opening. Asnoted, the angled interface between the cover and the respective openingallows for the cover to be guided out of the opening when a rotationalforce is applied and settle back into position in the opening when arotational force is applied in the opposed direction. As described, therotational force can be applied by a finger pressing on the engagementstructure, such as an indent, which is offset from the rotational axisof the cover, or by way of a tool inserted into a slot, which may beoffset as well or located above the rotational axis of the cover.

Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,”“upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are usedto assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of theembodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional termsshould not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specificorientation(s).

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention.Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from thespirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles ofpatent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure ispresented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as anexhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limitthe scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated ordescribed in connection with these embodiments. For example, and withoutlimitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may bereplaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similarfunctionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes,for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those thatmight be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternativeelements that may be developed in the future, such as those that oneskilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative.Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features thatare described in concert and that might cooperatively provide acollection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to onlythose embodiments that include all of these features or that provide allof the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly setforth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in thesingular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” isnot to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Anyreference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant toinclude any one of X, Y or Z individually, and any combination of X, Yand Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; and Y, Z.

1. A medical apparatus comprising: an apparatus body having an apparatus body wall with an exterior surface and a recess in said apparatus body wall, and said recess including an opening; a cover pivotally coupled to said apparatus body wall by a member about an axis of rotation, said member received in said opening and being operable to rotate said cover about said axis of rotation to move between a first position wherein said cover closes said opening and a second position wherein said cover rotates relative to said apparatus body and moves to allow access to said opening, said cover having an upper exterior surface that faces outwardly from said apparatus body and is flush with said exterior surface of said apparatus body when said cover is moved to said first position, said apparatus body including an attachment point below said cover and accessible through said opening, and said attachment point for receiving an attachment device to attach said apparatus body to a mounting surface; and an engagement structure offset from said axis of rotation, said engagement structure configured to allow engagement of said cover by at least one of a tool and a finger of a person.
 2. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover includes said engagement structure.
 3. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said engagement structure includes (1) a slot, (2) a recess, or (3) a high friction surface.
 4. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said axis of rotation is a tiltable axis of rotation, such that said cover is pivotally coupled to said apparatus body wall by a member about said tiltable axis of rotation.
 5. The medical apparatus according to claim 4, comprising an orthogonal axis extending from said apparatus body orthogonal to said exterior surface, and said tiltable axis of rotation of said cover being tiltable relative to said orthogonal axis.
 6. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said member is a cylindrical member.
 7. The medical apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said member is coupled to said apparatus body by a fastener.
 8. The medical apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a spring, said spring configured to bias said cover into said first position.
 9. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover includes a cover body, said recess including a size and shape, and said cover body including a size and shape substantially equal to said size and shape of said recess, and said cover body being imperforate.
 10. A medical apparatus comprising: an apparatus body having an apparatus body wall with a recess, said apparatus body wall having an exterior surface, said recess having an opening formed therein, and said recess having a recess perimeter; a cover being mounted to said apparatus body relative said recess and having an outer perimeter; a member configured to pivotally couple said cover to said apparatus body about an axis of rotation inward of said outer perimeter of said cover and operable to allow said cover to move between a closed first position to close said opening and an open second position to allow access to said opening, said cover having an upper exterior surface facing outwardly from said apparatus body and being flush with said exterior surface of said apparatus body when said cover is moved to said closed first position; an engagement structure offset from said axis of rotation, said engagement structure configured to allow engagement of said cover by at least one of a tool and a finger of a person; and wherein said apparatus body includes an attachment point below said cover and accessible through said opening, and said attachment point for receiving an attachment device to attach said apparatus body to a mounting surface.
 11. The medical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said member is configured to tilt said cover when said cover pivots between said closed first position and said open second position.
 12. The medical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said recess includes a through hole, and said apparatus body includes a transverse passage, said member extending through said through hole into said transverse passage to pivotally mount said cover to said apparatus body and forming said axis of rotation, and said transverse passage being spaced from and about said member wherein said member and said axis of rotation tilts in said transverse passage when said cover is pivoted relative to said apparatus body.
 13. The medical apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a fastener, said fastener extending into said member to couple said member to cover to said apparatus body.
 14. The medical apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a spring, said spring to bias said cover into said closed first position.
 15. The medical apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said cover includes said engagement structure.
 16. The medical apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said engagement structure includes (1) a slot, (2) a recess, or (3) a high friction surface.
 17. The medical apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said member includes a cylindrical member.
 18. The medical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said cover has a central axis, and said axis of rotation being offset from said central axis.
 19. The medical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said cover is an imperforate cover.
 20. The medical apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said cover is circular. 